How Much Do You Know About the World's Religions?

October 27, 2010

Dear St. Paul’s Family,

Pop quiz!

Which Bible figure is most closely associated with leading the exodus from Egypt?
· Job
· Elijah
· Moses
· Abraham

When does the Jewish Sabbath begin?
· Friday
· Saturday
· Sunday

According to rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, is a public school teacher permitted to read from the Bible as an example of literature, or not?
· Yes, permitted
· No, not permitted

These were among the questions included in the recent “Religious Knowledge Quiz” conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Given the generally low level of cultural literacy in our country, it may be no surprise that most Americans did poorly on the quiz. But would you like to know which group scored the highest? Atheists! The people that claim no religious adherence whatsoever were the most knowledgeable about religion. Jews were next highest, followed by Mormons. And Christians? Middle of the pack. That’s a stunning result, given that most of the questions dealt with Christianity. But it’s downright sad that most Protestants could not answer "What was the name of the person whose writings and actions inspired the Protestant Reformation?" And many Catholics (40%) could not explain a basic Catholic teaching about the bread and wine used for communion.

You can take the quiz for yourself and find the answers to the above questions at http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us-religious-knowledge/index.php. See how you do, then ask yourself: Why is it that Mormons know more about Christianity than many Christians? Why do Jews know more about other religions in the world than we do? And why do agnostics and atheists know more about the relationship between religion and public policy than the very followers of those religions?

I’m not sure what the answers are to those questions, but it is clear that we need to do a much better job becoming familiar with all the world’s major religions, including our own. Here are a few reasons why:

TO DEEPEN OUR OWN FAITH
It will clarify our own convictions and deepen a sense of our own spirituality. Are you having trouble observing the Sabbath, or finding rhythm and routine in your life? Learn about the Jewish feasts and festivals. Do you need a new way to pray, and quiet your soul? You may find it by adapting some Buddhist principles. Are you having trouble swallowing your pride and being obedient to God? That’s the basic premise of Islam, whose very name means “submission to God.”

TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD
There is no way to fully appreciate some of the world’s most pressing international concerns without a knowledge of their religious contexts. How can we come to understand Al Qaeda without knowing the beliefs of Islam? How can we negotiate through the ongoing mess in Gaza without a firm grasp of Judaism? And how can we appreciate the emerging cultures of India and China without knowledge of Hinduism and Buddhism?

TO BUILD THE KINGDOM
We cannot realize God’s kingdom on earth without being conversant with those around the world who are different from us. When advancing the gospel to the people of Corinth, Paul said, “For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews...I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). Paul understood that the best way to carry out God’s vision of peace, joy, and love on earth was through partnership with others, not antagonism. Learning to speak the language of other religious people will build bridges of justice and compassion, and help us overcome our tendencies toward jingoism, narrow-mindedness, and intolerance.

So here’s the pitch. Starting this Sunday at 9:00am in the Library, Dr. Jessica deVega, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Morningside College (and the smartest person I know!) will be offering a six-week survey of the world’s major religions. You don’t need to register in advance, and readings will be handed out in class or made available on the web.

Let’s grow in our faith, and in our understanding of others.

Grace and Peace,

Magrey

The Rev. Magrey R. deVega
St. Paul's United Methodist Church
531 W. Main St.
Cherokee, IA 51012
Ph: 712-225-3955
http://www.cherokeespumc.org



WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY
With Halloween’s observance this Sunday, this Sunday’s sermon is titled “What’s Behind Your Mask?” based on Jesus’ words to the Pharisees in Matthew 6:1-21. Trick or treat!

EXCITING CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COMING
A leadership team of 24 church members has been busy preparing an exciting capital campaign that will start on November 14 and conclude with Commitment Sunday on December 5. It’s titled “Together in Faith: Building a Better Future” and will fund upcoming renovations to the Education Wing. Please be in prayer for the success of the campaign and how you will respond.

THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS MEMORIES REQUESTED
As part of our campaign, we are inviting people to bring in pictures and other personal items that share your favorite Thanksgiving and Advent/Christmas memories. Thanksgiving items will be displayed in the narthex on November 21, and Advent items on November 28. You can be bring them to the church office any time before then, and they will be secured for safe keeping and returned to you. For more information, contact Nancy Knapp.

MORNINGSIDE LECTURE
Do you know young people who have fallen away from the church? Then consider attending a lecture at Morningside this Monday night at 7:30 pm by David Kinnaman, author of UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity. He will share how young people today view the church, and how congregations can adapt to these changing times. The lecture takes place in the Olsen Student Center and is free to the public.

UMW BAZAAR
Preparations are coming together for the annual fall bazaar sponsored by the United Methodist Women on Tuesday, November 2. Tickets for $7.00 are available for pre-purchase through the church office.